Plate 011 · Continental Europe
Bernese Mountain Dog
伯恩山犬
“A Swiss dairy farm's cart puller, once known locally as a 'cheese dog'.”
- Origin
- Switzerland
- Canton of Bern, Switzerland
- Region of origin
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- Old Swiss farm type; breed club founded in 1907
- Today
- Family companion · Carting
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
Then → Now
Historical depiction not yet verified.
NowFriendlyToaster · CC BY · Wikimedia Commons
History
01 · Origin
Canton of Bern, Switzerland
One of four Swiss mountain dog (Sennenhund) breeds, from farming areas around Bern.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
An all-round farm dog: guarding the farmstead, driving cattle and pulling carts of milk and cheese.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
By the late 1800s the breed's numbers were dwindling; Swiss fanciers, among them Franz Schertenleib from 1892 and Professor Albert Heim, worked to revive it, and a breed club was formed in 1907.
04 · Today
Family companion · Carting
A calm, affectionate family dog that still enjoys carting and draft events.
Personality
- Good-natured
- Calm
- Affectionate
- Loyal
- Gentle
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: this atlas’s editorial summary on a 1–5 scale, for rough comparison between breeds here — not a measurement or a standardised assessment.
- Size
- Large
- Lifespan
- 7–10 years
- Coat
- Thick, moderately long tricolour double coat
Field note
Bernese Mountain Dogs historically pulled farmers' carts of milk and cheese, and locals called them 'cheese dogs'.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Working Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI
- Popular in
- United States
In 2014 it ranked 11th by puppies born with the German Association of Dog Breeders (VDH). AKC registrations: ranked 20 among breeds in 2025.
Sources2 references
- Bernese Mountain Dog — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bernese-mountain-dog/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-06 · Used for registry status, AKC group and breed standard reference only.
- Bernese Mountain Dog (encyclopedia overview) — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernese_Mountain_Dog
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-06 · Secondary overview; cross-check claims against primary breed-club sources.
Image credits
FriendlyToaster · CC BY · Wikimedia Commons
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions.
